exploring nature's wonders
From September through December, 2011 we will be presenting the first installment of our Exploring Nature's Wonders program. The series will feature an impressive lineup of instructors who will teach a variety of courses on topics that will appeal to both kids and adults. Event registration may be accomplished by clicking on the "Calendar & Event Registration" link to the left and then browsing the BRCES calendar to find the course you wish to attend. All courses are FREE thanks to support from our partner organizations the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Hiking Along, American Hiking Society and The North Face. See below for the program schedule:
Supported by
Birding the Blue Ridge Center
Instructor: Joe Coleman
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8 am until
Come explore the meadows and forests of the Blue Ridge Center while taking part in this bird walk lead by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy president Joe Coleman where you’ll learn all about the birds of our region and their behaviors during the Fall season. Joe is an avid birder and amateur naturalist. He is one of the founders of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy whose mission is the preservation and proliferation of wildlife habitat in Loudoun County. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship and has been exploring its beautiful habitats for over 10 years. All levels of birders are welcome including beginners. Recommended Ages: 17 yrs. old and up.
Get Kids Exploring - Environmental Archaeology
Instructor: Jeffrey Alvey
Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 1 - 4 pm
Registration closed - limit of participants reached
A second course has been scheduled for October 26
Come explore the archaeological remains on the Blue Ridge Center property with archaeologist Jeffrey Alvey and learn how biological remains from archaeological sites are used to understand ancient environments. Come learn how archaeologists answer questions about the past like which trees, herbs, vegetables, and flowers that ancients saw around them? Which animals lived nearby and which did they hunt or keep as pets? And where did they find clay for their pottery or stone to make their tools with? Jeffrey has worked as a professional archaeologist for over seven years during which time he has studied the ancient American Indian cultures of the southeastern US as well as the ancient cultures of Israel, and the greater Middle East. Recommended Ages: 7 – 14 yrs. old, parents are also welcome. Limit of 25 participants.
Get Kids Exploring - Nature Photography
Instructor: Leigh Scott
Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
The natural world is full of beautiful scenery and fascinating plants and animals. In keeping with Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, we should leave them where we find them – though you can keep the memory fresh by taking a picture! You don’t have to buy an expensive camera to get good photos – a simple point-and-shoot device is fine. We'll learn ten easy tips that can help you take better pictures on your next outdoor adventure. Join Leigh Scott, a Certified Environmental Educator and staff member at American Hiking Society, for this interactive program. Be sure to bring along your camera so that we can go outside and get some practice. Recommended Ages: 7 – 14 yrs. old, parents are also welcome. Limit of 25 participants.
Birding the Blue Ridge Center
Instructor: LWC volunteer
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 8 am until
Come explore the meadows and forests of the Blue Ridge Center on this bird walk lead by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy where you’ll learn all about the birds of our region and their behaviors during the Fall season. All levels of birders are welcome including beginners. Recommended Ages: 17 yrs. old and up.
Get Kids Exploring - Deciduous Forests
Instructor: Jennifer Chambers
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 1 - 4 pm
This program will get kids exploring the ecosystem of the deciduous forests found on the 900 acres that comprise the Blue Ridge Center property where they will learn about the many habitats that deciduous forests provide. We will follow a food web in the forest, learn what happens when a species is endangered and think about ways that people can reduce their impact on forest food webs. The hike will be lead by Jennifer Chambers of Hiking Along. Jennifer has fifteen years of teaching experience in environmental and special education and in 2004 started Hiking Along, an organization that works to provide educational hikes for children in the NOVA and Metro DC region. Recommended Ages: 7 - 14 yrs. old, parents are also welcome. Limit of 25 participants.
Get Kids Exploring - Environmental Archaeology
Instructor: Jeffrey Alvey
Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 1 - 4 pm
Come explore the archaeological remains on the Blue Ridge Center property with archaeologist Jeffrey Alvey and learn how biological remains from archaeological sites are used to understand ancient environments. Come learn how archaeologists answer questions about the past like which trees, herbs, vegetables, and flowers that ancients saw around them? Which animals lived nearby and which did they hunt or keep as pets? And where did they find clay for their pottery or stone to make their tools with? Jeffrey has worked as a professional archaeologist for over seven years during which time he has studied the ancient American Indian cultures of the southeastern US as well as the ancient cultures of Israel, and the greater Middle East. Recommended Ages: 7 – 14 yrs. old, parents are also welcome. Limit of 25 participants.
Get Kids Exploring - Bee Prepared!
10 Essentials for Hiking
Instructor: Leigh Scott
Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Lately there has been a lot of buzz about accidents that happen when people are not properly prepared to be outdoors. Don’t bee hurt or uncomfortable on your next adventure. Come learn about the 10 Essentials for Hiking so that you will have what you need whenever you hit the trail. Join Leigh Scott, a Certified Environmental Educator and staff member at American Hiking Society, for this interactive program. Bring along two or three of the items that you normally take on hikes so that we can have a “show and tell” session as part of the class. Recommended Ages: 7 – 14 yrs. old, parents are also welcome. Limit of 25 participants.
Reading the Land - Historical Ecology of the Blue Ridge
Instructor: Emily Southgate
Saturday, November 5, 2011, 10 am - 1 pm
Registration closed - limit of participants reached
Join Dr. Emily Southgate in this co-sponsored program with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy where we will explore the Blue Ridge Center property to discover the history of human impact on the land. The 900-acre Blue Ridge Center is comprised mostly of meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes today; however, people have lived and used the land here for centuries and have had a tremendous impact on it. Dr. Southgate, a historical ecologist, will describe what and how we can learn from studying man’s impact on the land and ecology. Recommended Ages: 17 yrs. old and up.
Get Kids Exploring - A Changing Season
Instructor: Phil Daley
Sunday, November 13, 2011, 1 - 4 pm
Due to some cancellations, registration for this event has been re-opened
Join naturalist Phil Daley of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on this family walk as he explores the Blue Ridge Center, looking at how plants and animals prepare for winter. Phil is a 27 year resident of Loudoun County where he has been very active in environmental and community organizations. He is a retired Air Force Colonel and former high school teacher with a degree in Natural Resources Management. He has been a naturalist for the past ten years and leads nature walks for schools, scouts and various adult groups throughout Loudoun County. Recommended Ages: Kids and Adults (ages 7 yrs. old and up). Limit of 25 participants.
Sharing Your Enthusiasm for Nature
Instructor: Phil Daley
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 10 am - 1 pm
Join naturalist Phil Daley of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for this informative seminar. Participants will discuss the ‘how to’s’ on leading small groups exploring the out-of-doors. We will discuss reference materials and equipment that will enhance a groups experience-whether it is for children, family or adults. The basic purpose of this program is to increase participants’ knowledge and confidence in sharing their enthusiasm for nature with others. Classroom: 1 ½ hour; followed by an interpretive walk; 1 ½ hours. Recommended Ages: 17 yrs. old and up. Limit of 15 participants.
Foundations of sustainable living
During September and October 2011 we will be presenting the first installment of our Foundations for Sustainable Living workshop series. The series will feature an impressive lineup of instructors who will teach weekend workshops on a variety of topics that will provide the information needed to live more sustainably. More detailed information may be obtained by downloading the series brochure. Event registration may be accomplished by clicking on the "Calendar & Event Registration" link to the left and then browsing the BRCES calendar to find the course you wish to attend. After finding your course, just click on it to register and make your secure online payment. See below for the program schedule:
Building and Using an Espalier Fence for Backyard Fruit
Instructor: Michael Judd
Saturday, September 17, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$40 Members, $50 Non-members
This workshop will focus on how to maximize and manage fruit production in a backyard with hands on building of an espalier fence that could be used for growing fruit such as grapes, currant, or kiwifruit. We will cover a range of solutions for growing fruit in small and large spaces, including espalier design, unique plant selection, shaping, pruning and maintenance.
Wild Edible Plant Walk
Instructor: Tim MacWelch
Sunday, September 18, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$40 Members, $50 Non-members
Come learn how to enter the delicious world of foraging your own food right off the landscape, just like our ancestors once did. You'll obtain the knowledge to safely identify a wide variety of wild edible plants, trees and shrubs of the season. Each participant receives a copy of the Earth Connection wild edible plant guide with full color photos and plant information.
Wild About Mushrooms
Instructor: Michael Judd
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$10 Materials fee + Registration Fee ($30 Members, $40 Non-members)
Grow your own mushrooms! You can grow delicious and nutritious culinary and medicinal mushrooms in your own garden or home (in apartments, and on rooftops and patios too!). Learn how to inoculate stumps, logs, wood chips and burlap sacks while improving your garden ecology. You'll also be able to take home your own Mushroom Log!
Traditional Basketry
Instructor: Tim MacWelch
Sunday, September 25, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$40 Members, $50 Non-members
This is a hands-on workshop for those of you who want to learn the beautiful and useful art of basketry. The course will teach you how to make several styles of traditional wicker basketry and will include information on basket material selection, harvesting techniques, and what to use throughout the seasons. Materials will be provided by us, and supplemented by materials that we'll gather from the wild. You will go home from this workshop with two natural baskets that you have made all by yourself!
Raising Chickens 101
Instructor: Shawna DeWitt
Sunday, October 9, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$10 Members, $20 Non-members
Come learn how to farm your own fresh, organic eggs with this workshop on raising chickens. Learn the basics of brooding, coop construction, electric fencing, feed rations and supplements, and veterinary care. The workshop will also include a tour of Mountain View Farm for an up-close look at their approach to raising chickens.
GARDENING WITH NATURE
During May and June 2011 we will be presenting the next installment of our Gardening with Nature workshop series. The series will feature an impressive lineup of instructors who will teach weekend workshops on a variety of topics related to food and gardening. More detailed information may be obtained by downloading the series brochure. Event registration may be accomplished by clicking on the "Calendar" link to the left and then browsing the BRCES calendar to find the course you wish to attend. After finding your course, just click on it to register and make your secure online payment. See below for the program schedule:
Soil Building Methods for Growing Nutrient-Dense Foods
Instructor: Rob Moutoux
Sunday, May 8, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Wild About Mushrooms
Instructor: Michael Judd
Saturday, May 14, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Wild Edible Plant Walk
Family Oriented Program with
Discounts for Youth (Ages 13-18)
Instructor: Tim MacWelch
Saturday, May 21, 2011, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Creating a Permaculture Garden Using Raised Beds and Swales
Instructor: Michael Judd
Saturday, June 4, 2011, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Rain Barrel Workshop
Instructors: Jay Frankenfield and Chris VanVlack
Saturday, June 11, 2011, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Eco-adventures!
To register for the following events click on the "Calendar" link to the left and locate the event you would like to attend.
Birding the Blue Ridge Center
with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
Saturdays, May 7, 28, June 25 and July 23, 2011
Registration not required
Meet at the Education Center at 8 am, Free program
Farm Tour and Plant Sale
Saturday/Sunday, May 21 and 22, 2011, Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Registration not required
Come take part in free tours of Mountain View Farm and learn about the intricacies and importance of sustainable agriculture. There will also be other vendors with products and information, as well. Stop by the Nature Photography table and meet Leigh Scott, Exec. Director of BRCES. Visit the BRCES information table to learn about all of our 2011 programs from Jeffrey Alvey, BRCES Program Director. With adult programs on gardening and sustainable living, and nature programs for children, BRCES will have something for everyone in 2011!
Ancestral Cooking Class: A Feast the Old-Fashioned Way
Sunday, May 22, 2011, Time: 1 pm - 6 pm
This class gives you the skills to be a stone-age chef! Join us for an original cooking class, taught by the experts from Earth Connections. Learn how to build a stone fireplace with reflector, and use it to slow roast venison on a spit, and a stone oven and steam pit to cook root crops. Grill ribs, sausages and spiced vegetables over the fire with an Algonquin-style green wood grill "Barbecue;” boil soup with hot rocks to make a rich broth of wild edible greens and shoots; and fry bacon and steaks on a stone frying pan. Traditional eating utensils, cooking containers and other subjects will also be covered. Vegetarians are welcome to come, and we’ll be sure that you have enough to eat – just be sure to let us know. The dinner menu includes sassafras tea, venison roast from the spit, beef kielbasa, wild weed soup, rock-fried beef steaks, green wood grilled vegetables (including zucchini and squash), steam-pit-cooked potatoes and yams, and rock-oven-baked dessert (a surprise).
Registration: $75 per person ~ Attire: Comfortable outdoor clothing, closed toed shoes, and sunscreen.
Lost Ladybug Safari and Picnic Lunch
Saturday, June 11, 2011, Time: 11 am - 3 pm
What’s red and black and a whole bunch of fun? Ladybugs, of course! Join us on a family-friendly safari for some rare species of ladybugs, which we will capture and photograph for researchers at Cornell -- and then release. The luncheon menu includes kid-friendly picnic foods: pita sandwiches, walking salad (peanut-butter-and-raisin-stuffed apples), potato salad, trail mix, and fruit juice.
Registration: $15/adult, $5/youth (Ages 6 to 18), 5 and under free ~ Attire: Comfortable clothes, closed toed shoes, and sunscreen
Nature Scavenger Hunt and Picnic Lunch
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 11 am - 2 pm
Think you're a great detective? Test your skills on this family-friendly competition! We'll split into teams and roam around the Blue Ridge Center, searching for items on the scavenger hunt list. You might just win a prize! The luncheon menu includes: Make-your-own sandwich platter (featuring fresh-baked breads with deli meats and cheeses), potato salad, homemade cookies, and fruit juice.
Registration: $15/adult, $5/youth (Ages 6 to 18), 5 and under free ~ Attire: Comfortable clothes, closed toed shoes, and sunscreen
Firefly Fling
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 7 pm - 9:30 pm
Fireflies (aka lightning bugs) are lighting up the night sky at the Blue Ridge Center. Join naturalist Cliff Fairweather of the Audubon Society to find out what fireflies really are, how and why they light up, why some fireflies are cannibals, and other cool things about firefly lives. After a firefly talk, we'll take a walk to look for fireflies and other creatures of the evening.
Registration: $10/adult, $3/youth (Ages 6-18), 5 and under free ~ Attire: Comfortable clothes with long pants, closed toed shoes
